Adult Social Workers

• Suffolk County Council - Various locations countywide in Suffolk
• Salary: £37,280 + 3.3% agreed pay rise per annum (pro rata for part time hours) rising to £38,220 - £40,777 per annum after successful completion of your ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment) Plus a £500 additional payment and retention payments
• Hours: Full or part time hours available
• Contract: Permanent and temporary contracts available

 

Posts available

• West (Mildenhall), 37 hours per week, based at Mildenhall Hub
• Mental Health West (Bury St Edmunds) 37 hours per week, based at West Suffolk House
• Mental Health East (Ipswich) 37 hours per week, based at Endeavour House
• Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism, Review Team (Ipswich) 37 hours per week, based at Endeavour House
• Ipswich and East, Flexible Care and Support Team, 37 hours per week, based at Endeavor House - 2 positions
• Ipswich and East, Flexible Care and Support Team, 30 hours per week, based at Endeavor House
• Learning Disability and Autism, East (Ipswich) 37 hours per week, based at Endeavour House

 

Suffolk’s Adult Social Care Services are looking for passionate Adult Social Workers and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) to join our team.

Whether you are an experienced practitioner or about to qualify, if you are committed to supporting local communities and building strong networks, we want to hear from you. Suffolk offers a comprehensive training programme, including the ASYE scheme for NQSWs, designed to give you the best start and lay the foundation for a rewarding long-term career.

 

Your role

You will bring the skills and experience to deliver innovative, strengths-based assessments and care planning for individuals, carers, and their support networks. We are looking for someone who is adaptable, confident, and committed to strengthening social work, ambitious about what people can achieve and eager to explore creative ideas that lead to positive outcomes.

If you are considering applying, we encourage you to watch our video on Reimagining a Career in Adult Social Work. It offers valuable insight into the impact you can make and the support you'll receive as part of our team.

 

Why join us?

This is your chance to develop your career while making a meaningful impact in Suffolk’s communities. You will be supported by a team dedicated to your professional growth and success. We welcome early applications and will guide you through the registration process.

We offer:

• Full-time and part-time hours
• Permanent and temporary roles across Suffolk
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Retention payments at 2, 3 and 5 years (£1,000, £1,500 and £2,000)
• Six protected CPD days
• A strong and diverse training offer
• Supportive, experienced teams
• Clear pathways for development and progression across the council
• An inclusive, creative culture

 

If successful in joining the organisation, you will:

• have an excellent induction to the role
• receive support from peers and mentors
• be able to access extensive training opportunities available, to support your personal and professional development
• join a cohort of NQSW's who are also completing their ASYE training allowing you to provide and receive support from other NQSWs.  

 

Further opportunities with career development

Following successful completion of your ASYE you could progress in the following roles:

• Approved Mental Health Practitioner
• Practice Educator. 

 

Signs of Safety

It is an exciting time to join Adult Social Care in Suffolk, with our ambition titled People at the heart of Care, setting out how we will work to support people to live fulfilling and independent lives in Suffolk. Using our Signs of Safety model as a foundation throughout our service- working with people and their networks using a safety, solution building and trauma responsive approach.

This is your chance to become one of the select few Social Workers worldwide that are trained practicing professionals in Signs of Safety; this will see you stand out from other Social Workers and enable you to develop and progress in your career.

 

The teams

Integrated Neighbourhood and Area Locality 

Adult social work in Suffolk supports individuals aged 18 and over who may need help due to: Physical health conditions, Mental health challenges, Age-related needs, Substance misuse, or Caring responsibilities. We uphold our strategic responsibilities under the Care Act 2014, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.

Through our Integrated Neighbourhood and Area Locality Teams, we work closely with health professionals to help people live independently, stay safe, and maintain their well-being within their homes and communities. Our teams carry out holistic assessments, provide advice and guidance, and signpost individuals to local resources. We collaborate with key stakeholders, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises to promote choice, independence, and person-centred care - placing people at the heart of everything we do.

Learning Disabilities and Autism

We are recruiting Social Workers to join our Learning Disability and Autism Service. In this role, you will work with individuals with learning disabilities and autism, providing personalised support that helps them achieve their goals and thrive in their community. Every day is different, whether you're helping a young person transition from hospital to their first home or creating a tailored reablement plan to connect someone within local community, you will have the chance to make a profound difference.

Mental Health

The ASC Mental Health Service is a county wide service and therefore has bases across Suffolk. We are a creative service, evolving to work in the best way for the people of Suffolk. As a specialist service supporting those with functional mental health conditions, the teams are full of knowledge, skills, experience and a passion to encourage and promote independence and wellbeing. The service works closely with local system partners to provide high standards of social work to the people of Suffolk, who are also receiving a service from NHS Mental Health Services, including carrying out both statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and those under the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007).

Flexible Care and Support Team

The Flexible Care and Support Team is a countywide service dedicated to helping adults remain safe, independent, and connected to their communities. Using a strengths-based approach, the team provides timely support and interventions for people with a wide range of needs, working closely with families, carers, health professionals, and community partners.

 

For more information

For an informal discussion about any of these roles please contact us by emailing: ascrecruitment@suffolk.gov.uk and we will give you a call at your convenience.

 

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Grade 5 Adult Social Worker Job and Person Profile (JPP).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. 

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.  

1. Tell us about a time when you worked collaboratively with statutory, private, and voluntary agencies to deliver an effective joint response to health and social care needs. What was your role and what did you achieve? 
2. Provide an example of how you have used creative and innovative thought to solve a problem for a service user. What was the situation and what did you do? 
3. How do you manage your workload and prioritise tasks in a changing health and social care environment? Please provide a specific example. 
4. Please state your preference of post if you have one. 

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details). 

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.  

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page. 

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable. 

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk  or 03456 014412.  You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.  

 

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 20 September 2026.
 

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

We offer a fantastic working environment including diverse and active staff networks, great flexible working options and many benefits, as well as the opportunity to improve the lives of Suffolk residents.

 

Our WE ASPIRE values set out the behaviours we expect from everyone in the organisation regardless of who they are, what their role or grade is or where they work.  The values have been developed through feedback and input from employees at the council and underpin how we go about our everyday work.  They define us and help us to be the best we can be.

 

If you would like to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit the Suffolk County Council Jobs website and view the information within the tabs at the top of the screen.